October 12: Independence Day in Equatorial Guinea
Prayer Idea
Pray for the people and government of Equatorial Guinea.
Map by Peter Hermes Furian / Shutterstock.com.
History Note
Equatorial Guinea is a nation on the Atlantic Coast of Central Africa. In addition to territory on the mainland, it includes several islands in the Gulf of Guinea. The capital, Malabo, is on the island of Bioko. The distant Atlantic island of Annobón is also part of the country. The Portuguese, British, and Spanish were all involved in the region during the colonial period.
The colony was known as Spanish Guinea into the 20th century. Spain granted the people there some autonomy in 1963, and it became Equatorial Guinea. The Organization of African Unity, founded in 1963, played a role in the final move toward independence. In 1968 the people voted on a new constitution and elected a parliament. The country declared independence on October 12, 1968.
Equatorial Guinea has a population of 1.8 million. The majority belong to the Fang ethnic group, with smaller numbers of Bubi, Ndowe, Nanguedambo, and Bislo. Spanish, French, and Portuguese are the official languages, though many people speak one of several Indigenous languages. About 88% of the people are Roman Catholic, with some Protestants, Muslims, and members of other religious groups.
Equatorial Guinea features a variety of landscapes. Its wildlife ranges from leatherback sea turtles to forest elephants. Photo by danish4888 / Shutterstock.com.
Learn More
This video from the Bioko Marine Turtle Program features footage of turtles and some other animals. The captions are in Spanish, but you can still enjoy the baby turtle!
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